Salt Lake City Car Rental Deals – Gateway to Parks and Powder

SLC Car Rental Deals

Dramatic seasonal variations in pricing:

• Economy (e.g., Nissan Versa), from $26/day Great for valley driving and summer park visits
• Full-Size (e.g., Toyota Camry), from $35/day Comfortable for long drives to southern Utah parks
• 4WD SUV (e.g., Jeep Grand Cherokee), from $55/day Essential for ski season, 15-25% premium but worth it
• Minivan (e.g., Chrysler Pacifica), from $65/day Perfect for family ski trips or Mighty 5 tours

Ski season peaks: Christmas week, MLK weekend, Presidents Day. Book 4-6 weeks ahead.

Salt Lake City Driving Guide

Utah's Traction Law (Critical October 1 - April 30)

Requirements for Cottonwood Canyons (SR-210/SR-190):

• 2WD vehicles: Must have 3PMSF-certified snow tires OR carry chains
• AWD/4WD vehicles: Need M+S tires minimum (3PMSF or chains recommended)
• Violations: Class B misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine + 6 months jail
• Enforcement: Active on powder days, especially weekends

Canyon Driving & Ski Resort Access

• Big/Little Cottonwood Canyons: Steep grades, avalanche zones, parking reservations required
• Peak traffic: Friday PM, Saturday AM, Sunday PM during ski season
• Alternative: Park City via I-80 often easier but longer
• Interlodge: Roads close during extreme avalanche danger
• Summer: No restrictions but watch for cyclists

SLC Traffic Patterns

• I-15 corridor: Main artery, rush hours 7-9 AM and 4:30-6:30 PM
• Point of the Mountain: Notorious bottleneck between SLC and Utah County
• I-80 to Park City: Severe weekend ski traffic, construction ongoing
• Downtown: Free parking after 6 PM weekdays, Sundays free all day

Elevation & Weather Impacts

• Airport: 4,300 feet, minimal impact
• Park City: 7,000 feet, noticeable power loss in older vehicles
• Alta/Snowbird: 8,700+ feet, 10-15% power reduction
• Temperature swings: Can be 70°F in valley, snowing in canyons same day

Utah's Unique Laws

• Strictest DUI: 0.05% BAC limit (lowest in nation)
• Sunday restrictions: Some businesses closed, limited alcohol sales
• Move Over law: Required for all emergency vehicles
• No pumping gas: Self-serve everywhere (unlike neighboring Oregon)

Epic Utah Road Trips

The Mighty 5 Circuit

Distance: 900+ miles total (7-10 days recommended) Parks: Zion (4.5 hrs), Bryce Canyon (4 hrs), Capitol Reef (3.5 hrs), Arches (3.5 hrs), Canyonlands (4 hrs) Best approach: Either southern loop (Zion/Bryce) or eastern loop (Arches/Canyonlands) Tips: Book park accommodations months ahead. Standard cars fine for all paved roads. Best weather April-May and September-October.

SLC to Park City

Distance: 35 miles (45 minutes via I-80) Highlights: Utah Olympic Park, Main Street historic district, world-class skiing at Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Tips: Parking limited on Main Street. Consider park-and-ride lots. Summer offers hiking and mountain biking.

Bonneville Salt Flats

Distance: 110 miles west (1.5 hours via I-80) Highlights: Surreal white salt desert, land speed racing venue, incredible photos Tips: Never drive on wet salt. Bring water and sun protection. Best after rain when thin water layer creates mirror effect.